Mohammad Kaif has encouraged Virat Kohli to play with greater caution in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in New York on Sunday, June 9. He believed that a strike rate close to 130 would suffice for a modern batting great.
Virat Kohli hit one run from five deliveries and was caught at third man while attempting a huge shot in India’s tournament opener against Ireland. He would like to give a better account of himself against archrival Pakistan.
During a talk on Star Sports, Kaif was questioned if Kohli posed a threat to Pakistan.
“Forget Pakistan, Virat Kohli is a danger for every team. Any team that plays against him won’t find it that easy to get him out. However, I feel he will have to tone down his aggression a little. He could score only one run off five balls in the last match, stepped down the wicket, got a top edge, and got out.”
Mohammad Kaif
While appreciating Kohli’s dominant form, the cricketer-turned-commentator believes the Indian batting mainstay’s task should be to bat deep and get about 70 runs.
“Virat Kohli has form and is coming after playing exceptionally well in the IPL. He scored close to 700 runs. We saw the domination where he was attacking in the powerplay and hitting boundaries, playing slog sweeps, and hitting sixes against spin.”
“He is able to play every shot but I feel he needs to tone down his strike rate slightly. Go at a strike rate of around 130 and don’t run close to 140-150. His role will be to bat 15 to 20 overs and score 60-70 runs. 70 runs from Virat Kohli’s bat will be a very good knock. Take a little time at the start, wait for the bad balls, and then play your shots.”
Mohammad Kaif
Virat Kohli emerged as the Orange Cap winner in the IPL 2024 season by amassing 741 runs in 15 innings at a striking rate of 154.69. Yet the challenge lies ahead as he prepares to confront Pakistan on the seamerfriendly pitch in New York.
“I feel he can probably play at No. 3 as well” – Mohammad Kaif on Virat Kohli
Mohammad Kaif reckons Virat Kohli could be better suited batting at number three against Pakistan.
“I feel he can probably play at No. 3 as well. He opened and I can understand that he will open tomorrow as well, but I feel No. 3 is Virat Kohli’s right position on such a pitch where the ball is moving. He can play till the end, run in the middle overs, and punish the bad balls.”
Mohammad Kaif
Kohli should tackle the game like he did in the 2022 T20 World Cup clash with Pakistan just like the former India batter advised.
“You don’t need a strike rate of 150 on this pitch. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah will be there – watch the ball and play proper cricketing shots. The shot against Haris Rauf we show repeatedly, he watched the ball properly in that shot, there was no slogging and no movement. He just stood there, watched the ball, and hit a straight six. Virat Kohli will have to do the same job here as well.”
Mohammad Kaif
Kohli delivered an unbeaten 82 off 53 balls in Indias dramatic fourwicket victory over Pakistan at the last T20 World Cup hosted in Melbourne. He hammered Haris Rauf for consecutive sixes off the last two deliveries of the penultimate over completely shifting the momentum in favor of the Men in Blue who needed 28 runs from just eight balls.